The Nair Service Society (NSS) has been making significant interventions in Devaswom matters for long. Committed to the preservation of temples, rituals, interventions made by NSS over the years have helped in the upliftment of places of worship.
The NSS Thiruvananthapuram Taluk Karayoga Union, which treads the path paved by the Nair Service Society, had set up a Devaswom Sub-Committee with due emphasis on Devaswom issues.
Efforts are on to take over the temples in the taluk which are struggling to meet their daily expenses. At present, there are three temples in Thiruvananthapuram functioning under the auspices of the NSS Thiruvananthapuram Taluk Karayoga Union. Prominent among them is the Sree Dharma Sastha Temple, a centuries-old shrine located at Thycaud in the capital city of Kerala.
The Deity
The idol of Sree Dharma Sastha, who dwells in the form of Dhanwanthari holding the auspicious Neelathamara in his right hand, is believed to be an extraordinary deity who showers blessings on devotees.
The temple complex houses Lord Dharmasastha, the presiding deity, as well as Sree Mahaganapati, Sree Maha Vishnu, Sree Durga Devi, Sree Subrahmanyan, Sree Anjaneyan, Naga Gods and Navagrahas.
The Origins
Centuries ago, when Murajapam was first performed at the Sree Padmanabha Temple, many Brahmin families from different parts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu had arrived in the capital for the ceremony. Legend has it that a Brahmin nobleman of Paduthol Mana, also known as 'Valiya Thycaud', arrived from Mukundapuram and built the temple, with the help of the Travancore royal family.
Take Over by NSS Karayoga Union
Krishnan Namboodiripad, son of Jatavedan Namboodiripad of Pduthol Mana, legally handed over the temple to the NSS Karayoga Union, Thiruvananthapuram,
when the Brahmin nobles could
not afford the daily affairs of
running the temple. This was
due to their confidence in the Karayoga Union’s ability in
running the temple affairs in an orderly manner.
Development Work
The financial condition of the temple was at a low when the Union acquired ownership of all movable and immovable property. The Union then prepared a plan for development work as per the Tantric rules. To enhance the divine spirit, a number of architectural developments have been carried out in front of the temple. They include the elephant enclosures and the pradakshina paths.
Annadanam Mahadanam
The adjacent land in front of the temple was aquired and a three-storey Oottupura complex built there at a cost of Rs 1 crore. The Oottupura has been serving daily meals to devotees based on the principle of "Annadanam Mahadanam". The Thycaud Sree Dharma Sastha Temple has been elevated as one of the few temples in Thiruvananthapuram that provides daily food to the needy.
Rituals & Ceremonies
All ceremonies and offerings, including the Nityaseeveli, of the Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple, are regularly performed . In addition, festivals like Pradosham, Shashti and Ayilyam are celebrated every month. On the evenings of the first Saturday of every month, the Saneeswara Pooja is a special occasion. This is one of the rare temples in Thiruvananthapuram that houses the auspicious Navagrahas.